Fluid operable motor embodying annular series of opposed coaxial cylinders and pistons



J. E. MORTON oct. 21, 1952 2,614,540 FLUID OPERABLE MOTOR EMBODYINGANNULAR SERIES OF OPPOSED COAXIAL CYLINDERS AND PISTONS Filed Aug. 9,1946 4 Sheet's-Sheet l Oct. 21, 1952 J E MORTON 2,6"141-,540

FLUID'OPERABLE MOTR MBODYING ANNULR SERIES OF' OPPOSED COAXIAL CYLINDERSAND PISTONS Filed Aug. 9, 1946 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Oct. 2l 19 v .1. E. MoRToN 2,614,540

f OPERABLE MO EMBODYING ANNULAR ES OF PosED coAxA YLINDERS AND PIsTo F'1 d A g 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 SER1 NS 4 FLUID OP u 194e Oct. 21, 1952 J. E.MoRToN OPERABLE MOTOR EMBODYING AN osED ooAxAL CYLINDERS AND PIsToNsNULAR SERIES OF FLUID OPP Filed Aug. 9, 1946 4 ASheets-Sheet 4 f f |l @lf Q@ Q MN mw w l Patented Oct. 21., F1952 liLUlD` oPERABLE-MoroaEMBoDYlNG AN# f ANULAR smmssorv oPPosED coAXIAL CYLINDERsANDrIsToNs tJamesE. Morton, Abilene', Tex.r Appuavfign Auggst 9, 1946,'"serialiva-:689,605 Q v omiins. (Cl. id21-...119ir K' n i` 1 -Theinventionrelates fluid under pressure. y Y

One object of the invention is to provide-a motor which includes a shaftand a series'of cylinders with pistons therein which Aare-sldable onaxes parallel with the shaft and which" is to motors operable by adaptedfor delivering `high torquefor .driving purposes. Y Y Another object ofthe invention is toprovide a motor` of 'this type which includesannular-'series of opposed pairs of cylinders with pistons sldableFig-.13 isa Simila 'Section @keuren-line raf-1|; OfFg'. Y' ,r` I

' vThe invention body section 20, Atogthe l sides of which are nsev-t'cured, for example by screws 2 5, heads22and24, i The casing mayqbesupportedv by,br,ackets. -26, which are provided with annular 1members-28,

which are secured by -screws 3D, toltheheads. YA

on axesrparallel with the axis 'of the shaft, and 1 crank elementsbetween the opposedpistons for delivering high torque to the shaft.

Another object ofthe invention is :to provid a motor` of this type whichis compact, can be economically fabricated. and is eflicient in yoperation.

Other objects ofthe invention will appear from the -detaileddescription.

The invention consists-in the-several novel fea-y 2 tures Ahereinafterset forth, and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusionhereof.'

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal 4section ofa motor exemplifying the invention..

Fig. 2 is a transverse section takenv onv linev 2-2 of Fig. 1. v f

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Y

4Fig-4 is a section through one of the'crankelements and the piniondriven thereby, the lpistons being lshown by dotted lines. f i

Fig. 5 is a plan of one ofthe crank-elements with the roller beingillustrated in dotted lines. Fig. 6l is a transversey section throughone of the rings or annuli which are provided with annular conduits fordelivering fluid to and from the motor. l

Fig. '7 is a side elevationk of one of the 'driven valve members whichis vprovided with ports for controlling the flow of iluid between thecylinders and the conduits inthe annuli.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. :Fig 9 is alongitudinal section illustrating a portion ofthe motor taken through apair of opposed cylinders and illustrating thepistons in shaft 32extends lthrough head? 2 2 longitudinally into the casing,and-is=journalled mariti-friction bearings 34intheheads22,24. p A-,cap 35 secured by screws 31 to head Zienclosesthe endof shaft 32qwhichterminates 'inthe casing. A ring 33 isl secured to the outervifaeevofhead 22 and is .pro`

vided with an oil Sea1-searound shaft s2. This,

forms acasing which is' adapted to retain -oil,for

lubricating ,the running;parts.y f

An annular seriesl .ofi cylinders lli'l.A symmetrie.

cally disposedaro'und the axis of rand,having.their axes`parallelto.thefaxis of shaft'32, are formed in onesideportionfofgcasing body 20 and another annular series of cylinders4|,.having their; axes parallel vto the axis 0f shaft 32aresymmetrically disposed in the other side portion `of casingbody 20. Eachof the cylinders 40 is co.axial with and is disposed in, opposedrelation to acylinder M1. Pistons 42 are sldable in cylinders 40 andpistonsA 43 are sldable in cylinders 4I. The innerrends of cylinders 40;4I, terminate at a radially cylin-` drical chamber'll.This'a'rrangem'ent ofcylinders and pistons exemplifies a motor withannular series of co-axiallyfoppo'sed cylinders which are' providedwth'pistons 'whichf are slidable'longitudinally .of and parallel to, thevaxis of .the shaft '32, so that each pair kof opposed pistons will k'operate a crank-element. as hereinafter setvvforth.

their mid-stroke positions, parts being shown in elevation. u Y

r10 is an outer-side elevation of a portion of oneof the heads of thecasing. -,Fig. 11 is aside elevationof the body ofthe .casing in; whichthe cylinders are formed. 5

1271s `a section of the casingbody and the I ponduit rings, taken online I 2-I2 of Fig. 11;' i

lAseries .of,`crankelements 4correslzionding to the number of cylindersineach. series `are provided. Each crank-elementv is voperable` by-apair of vopposed pistons 42,43, and is disposedfin the casingbody 20,between the vopposedcylinde'r's 40,

Each'. crank velementcomprisesa- 'bearing f 4|. member 4.a whichsfjoufnaued'i'n' 'anfanti-friti bearing 49, which is mounted inthejinnerend of the cylindrical chamber 46;'.an integral ecc'enma orwrist pinto, andarquerf'sz, 'whichjis provided witha bushingl 53,,whichr is jrnalled on pin 50; a retaining ollariiwhich is held-,by

a split ring on pin 50, and holds theirollerfon K I the vbearing Vmember48 of the",cr'ankf-elemer-1t.

Thi? pephry (Pf-each roller 52 ehsagesvapair of opposed pistons `lll2,ll3so that-,during the -op .eran 0f 01.1@ .0f:. ,the `Qimoseclpistonsbygfiuid `is exemplified in a motor'which' y comprises a casingwhichincludes aonegpiece 'under pressure acting to drive the roller 52,the

opposed piston will ybe shifted by the roller to discharge the fluidfrom the cylinder in which it is slidable. This exemplies a structure inwhich crank elements which are mounted to rotate on a radial axis laredrivably engaged by opposed,pis tons which are slidable longitudinallyand parallel with.' the axis of shaft 15152.

Each crank element is adapted to drive a bevel pinion 58, the outer endof which is secured by a key 49 in the cylindrical `bearing member 48.

' -riphery of ring 66. Ports |00, one for each oylinv The inner end 59of each prionisll'urrrlled in..

an anti-friction bearingy pwhichiisfmountedxin an annular member 62,which is integrally formed with and connected by spokesf63, 4totheannular portion of the casing body "20L Pinio'ns conrrectgconduit 'I2and the inner periphring 68,1iandports one for each cylinlider-4|,connectvconduit 13 and the inner periph- 58 mesh with a bevel gearS4ittheihubnfxs7vhich.

extends through ring 62l and is secured by. a key 65 to shaft 32. Thisexemplifies gearingincluding radially extending pinions Which are drivenbythe crankeleinentsffordriving-Shaft312.-

The outer ends of the cylindrical chamber-s 546,1 in which theff'erankt'aller-soperatef-areeach closed by"-,icap`41=;whi-isrerievably.securedetofeasing AbyLscrews#for accessl to thefcra-nkllele-- merits 'an-dl'their asse'rribly With-theV casing;

. Qryo'f. ring A6.68. Each group of ports 92, |00 and 0|, arelongitudinally aligned at the innerpe- .:.ripher.ysofxingll.vr

The l.cylindrical outer periphery of each of the f val'vemembers 94, 96,is provided With a series of ixl'hemfeans for deliveringiluidto-andLex-haustl r`or ringfiliiand;thefmeansifor deliveringfuidltof longitudinally extending channels |04, and with analternatelyrarrangedzf series fofi .longitudinal channels |05, forcontrolling-:theflowrzdffuidto and-'from' the annularwseriesrofcylinders-:respectively tThe channels: |104:..,in,iyalve '.member1'r394cylinders 40,;andronewo'f ther.'conduits'|0mr "1|,` and :channels SL05alternately-:control 'the exhaust of uid from said cylinders to theothereoflfsaid conduits; L Similarly;:the:y channels; i104 -'in-valvemember.f6.,:.control.the .o'w 'off'iluidifromy onemf th'ez'conduits; 1 2.for- 213;1-,t0 icylinderstlll.; and. L'Ghana nels,lf'ialternatelycontrolithe .exhaust .foi'aflui-d duitwf'l. nistcommunieativelyjconnectedby-1a duct lliorcorrducting'flui-dbetweeneachfcylinder'40 and the;innerwperiphery-ofring456.v similarrpofrtrZcextends ffroms-thefinner periphery-dering fromLsaid: cylinderstozthezother. vof fsaidccenduitsi Channels 1.0.4,'.1051iiirrfvallzettmembers- 94; 9,5. cceactgwithiheiports:inringsfBErSmespectiyely, to deliyerrand:exhauslefluidzfromgthe cylinders:in eacl'nannularcseriles-:in rotatiyefsuccess-ion. The series ofchannels |04, |05, in valve memberse! and 19.6; .-;res.pelctively;are-relatively positioned #t0 deliver fluid for imparting- :.affpoweristrokeztola pstoninpneannularfseries;offcylinderseandfexhausting;fluid; fromn.ther,co.+axially :opposed Cylinder in: .1 the. other 5series,A so :that while af power stroke is being imparted toonefof'a;pairroffpposed -pistonsj the.; crank. 'rollen b.etweensaidfpistons will impart:anexliauststrokertotherother "of said pairlofpistons'.AThem'otornis reversblegrdepending upon .the uid connections.ofpipesfl'i v'19, and8|,'83v.=' v

The operation of each pair of pistons 42,1r 43; in aA Apairf'olfopposed;cylinders`- y"40; 4| ,'-Will' be-as follows: assuming-pipes L| -8 fare-connectedto a source of luidzunderjj'pressurejrandjgpipesillll; Share.connected-for'exhaustigzuidifiuidl1mder Apressure will iiow'frorligpipefl 1.; throughduct 15 into4 conduit '30,.. and Qfro'm Epipe8| through duct. 8.0 into 'duct 7,2., and; fluid` fromfconduit4 ..1 Willbe exhausted through duct 18, to pipe 19, and :from lconduit 1,3through- ,duct 82,:to.fpper83..:As a .l channel |04 registers withlelongitudinally aligneports 90, firnring 6,; uid ,under vpressure Willow frommonduitlL-fsai'd port 9.8,; said channel` 4104, and port siintojfthe ...Cylnderi 40 Connected/' Saidrp0rl1e8p-fandgimpart a powerstroke '.to. the.; pistoni-152i in said-cylinder. :Simi-1L taneously,ea: .channelfffl05 valve'zinrenber '9.6,

ring 68, for exhausting fluid from the-'opposed cylinder #4|through-said f port '92; fsaidfv channel |05, and saidport'fllp'to-'conduit T3. This-"Will cause 1 piston 42 f to impartapowerjstroke ofapproximatelyl to the lroller 552-land' its crank-'- pin50--between1said opposedA pair ofipi's'tons while piston y433i7v`i1lbeshifte'dfbysaidrollery to exhaust fluid from .said,,cy11nderf4|,rthrouengits port 92,

said channel |05 in valvemember 96, and said port" |'0|', to conduit 13,as'illustrated inFig. 8. When the,` piston 42 has" completed its powerstroke and the opposed piston'43 has completed its exhaust stroke, achannelv |04 in ringl, will register with aligned ports and 92 for saidcylinder 4|,v and iluid under pressure will bedelivered from conduit 12,through'said port |00, said channel |04, and said port 92, to saidcylinder 4|, for impartinga power stroke to said piston 43.Simultaneouslsna channel |05 in valve member 94, will rotatepintoregistry with port 99 in ring 65, and its associated port 90, forexhausting fluid from the opposed cylinder 40, to

' conduit 1|, during the power stroke of piston 43. In like manner, thepistons in each pair of opposed cylinders will be operated in rotativesuccession, to operate the crank rollers 52. The operation of crankrollers 52 will drive pinions 58, which will drive shaft 32 through gear64.

In the exempliicationsof the invention shown, the motor is provided withnine pairs of opposed cylinders and pistons, and a longitudinallyaligned group of ports 00, 98, 99, for each cylinder 40, and a similargroup 92, |00, ||i|l for each cylinder 4|. The outer periphery of eachof the rotatable valve members 04,- 06, is provided with ten alternatelyarranged pairs of longitudinal channels |04, |05. This exemplifies valvemeans which causes power strokes in rotative succession in both seriesof opposed pistons and an exceptionally even ilow of power and thedelivery of enormous torque to the shaft 32. In the exemplicationillustrated, the nine crank-pins are angularly positioned to rotate in40 succession, and each roller and crank-pin receives ten power strokesin opposite directions, during each revolution of shaft 32 and valvemembers 94, 96. This results in high torque and smooth operation of themotor, without objectionable vibration.

By supplying iiuid under pressure, to pipes and 83, and connecting pipes11 and 8|, for the exhaust of iiuid, the motor will. operate in reversedirection. If pipes 1.1 and 10, 8| and 83, are closed, to prevent theiiow of fluid to the motor and its exhaust therefrom, the uid will belocked in the cylinders so that the shaft 32 will also be locked againstrotation.

An oil duct ||0 is provided in each crank-pin 50, which permits oil -inthe casing to flow to a groove through which oil is delivered to theouter ends of the pinions 58, for lubricating them. An oil duct I l2leads from duct l0, to the bushing 53, for lubricating the bearingsurfaces between said bushing and crank-pin 50.

The removable heads 41 provide for access to the chambers 46, in whichthe crank rollers are operated. The members 85 and 81, in the outer endsof the cylinders, are removable for replacement, by removal of the heads22, 24. A characteristic of the casing is, that both series of cylindersare formed in a one-piece casing body.

The invention exempliiies a motor operable by iluid under pressure,which is adapted to develop a high and constant torque withoutvibration; and includes opposed pistons for operating each crankelement, which is mounted for sliding movement parallel with the axis ofthe output shaft.

The invention also exemplies a motor operable by uid under pressure,which is compact and simple in construction, can be economically fab- 6ricatedand which cankbe readily assembled yand disassembled. Y

The invention is not to bey understood as limited `to the detailsdescribed,-since these may be modi--V fied within the scope of thevlappended lclaims without departing from the spiritor soopeoitheinvention. n Y Having thus describedthe inventionLwhatl claim as new anddesire to secure by LetersPatent 1. A motor operable by iluid underpressure, compri-sing: a casing including an annular member and sides, ashaft extending into and journalled in the casing, annular series ofco-axial opposed cylinders in opposite 4sides of the casing. having axessubstantially parallel with the axis of the shaft, the inner ends of oneseries of cylinders being spaced from the inner ends of the otherseries, pistons axially slidable in the cylinders, respectively,individual cranks, each carrying an element engaging the inner ends ofopposed pistons, said cranks being disposed substantially at thelongitudinal center of the casing, means on the central portion of theannular member o the ca-sing for rotatably supporting the cranks; ringsxed at opposite sides of the casing, each provided with annular intakeand outlet conduits for one series of cylinders; valve members in therings rotatable with the shaft. provided with ports for controllingiluid to and from the cylinders; and means for driving said shaft fromthe cranks, disposed between the ring-s and said valve members.

2. A motor operable by fluid under pressure, comprising: a casingincluding an annular member and sides, a shaft extending into andjournalled in the casing, annular series of co-axial opposed cylindersin opposite sides of the casing, having axes substantially parallel withthe axis of the shaft, the inner ends of one series of cylinders beingspaced from the inner ends of the other series, pistons axially slidablein the cylinders, respectively, individual cranks, each carrying anelement engaging the inner ends of opposed pistons, pinions on andco-axially with the cranks, said cranks and pinions being disposedsubstantially at the longitudinal center of the casing; means on thecentral portion of the annular member of the casing for rotatablysupporting the cranks and the pinions, rings fixed at opposite sides ofthe casing, each provided with annular intake and outlet conduits forone series of cylinders; Valve members in the rings, rotatable with theshaft, provided with ports for controlling iluid to and from thecylinders; and means for driving said shaft from the pinions, anddisposed between the rings and said valve members.

3. A motor operable by fluid under pressure, comprising: a casingincluding an annular member and sides, a shaft extending into andjournalled in the casing, annular series of co-axial opposed cylindersin opposite sides of the casing, having axes substantially parallel withthe axis of the shaft, the inner ends of one series of cylinders beingspaced from the inner ends of the other series, pistons axially slidablein the cylinders, respectively; individual cranks, each carrying anelement engaging the inner ends of opposed pistons, pinions on andco-axially with the cranks, said cranks and pinions being disposedsubstantially at the longitudinal center of Ithe casing, means on thecentral portion of the annular member of the casing for rotatably sup-

